"You bring me my daughter back hear me boy?" The king demanded. As a man named Karma I knew this would come back to get me one day but I didn't think It would be as soon as It was I nodded In agreement as he handed me half of the cash. "I will head back to the Forrest" for once my face was serious, this money I needed to find my story so I have to find her, Princess Amelia just make my job easier and come on home

*Hours Later*
-Deep In The Forrest-

As I dragged my foot through the weird change of terrain and wet mud on my shoes my eyes started to get tired, I was so close to passing out. "Princess Ameila?" I called out hopping to get a answer
I knew it wouldn't work but this man's gonna pay me 10 million If I bring his daughter back all I need Is trust and It's easy for me to get that. A sound interrupted my thoughts it sounded like a sword dropping "NO!" A female voice yelled. I looke north,in the direction I heard the voice and smirked. Bingo. "Ameila Is It?" I showed off my smile. She quickly tried picking her sword back up but it kept slipping from her grasp "Who taught you how to use a sword.." I laughed. Her guard seemed to be down a bit upon seeing I wouldn't do her harm "I know you ..." The Princess said stepping closer to me forgetting about the dropped sword. "Probally not from anything good" I rubbed the back of my head.

*Some more time later*

The wind hit our faces as we sat on a pile of leaves happily laughing as the day went on talking about the rules of the kingdom and history. As the hours went by I started to feel like me and this princess were actually friends, the girls a good listener. "Amelia, Your such a curious soul it makes me wonder" I stopped my sentence looking directly Into her eyes,a perfect example of how to get someone to have feelings for you quickly. Almost everyone folds during eye contact

"Wonder what?" She asked curiously

"What else are you curious about?"

"Not much I haven't seen enough of the world to want to crack any mysteries"

"How bout I tell you about some unsolved cases?"

She nodded happily

Some days later

"Come on Princess!!" I yelled waving at her to climb up the rocky waterfall

"I'm coming !" She said.

After making it to the top we couldn't help but stop our journey to look at the view. The stars were glowing, the mountain was so colorful and it wasn't raining so that's a plus

"It's so beautiful" Princess was dazed the sight upon her was adoring.

""It Is Princess it really is"

-Some weeks after Karma was assigned to the mission-

"Come On Karma we're finally here!"

"What the cave of gold?" I said sarcastically

"Course not" she laughed

"It's food, I finally see It" Ameila was practically drooling. We hadn't ate In two whole weeks my stomach was growling all day

"Those boars? Princess we have to be-"

"Careful? I know what to do other worry" Amelia responded

I shrugged her off "Let me at least help you"

*A Month Later*

"I'm sorry Ameila" The words escaped my mouth but I knew she wouldn't dare to believe them I just told my "girlfriend" I cheated on her with Mercy, Although I didn't say any names I know she can figure It out, She even knows about her father paying me

"Karma why would you..."
She paused
Yearns formed in her doll like eyes

"Princess I do love you-"

"You don't" she corrected him tears streaming down her face

The forest was alive with the haunting sound of the night—chirps, rustling leaves, and the occasional hoot of an owl. But amidst it, the silence between Karma and Amelia was deafening. She stood before him, her small, trembling frame a stark contrast to the fierce resolve in her eyes. Tears carved trails down her cheeks, glistening like moonlight on water, but her expression was far from weak.

"You don't," she repeated, her voice stronger this time, cutting through the stillness like a blade.

"Amelia, I swear I—" Karma reached for her, but she recoiled as if his touch would burn her.

"Don't you dare," she hissed, her fists clenched at her sides. "Don't you dare say you love me after everything."

Karma's usual smirk was nowhere to be found. He raked his hands through his hair, his calm façade cracking under the weight of her stare. How could he explain it? How could he justify it? The words tangled in his throat.

"I was going to tell you," he finally managed.

Amelia's laugh was sharp and bitter. "Oh, really? When? After you dragged me back to my father and took your blood money?" She took a step closer, her finger pointed accusingly at his chest. "Or maybe after you decided to share me as a joke with your little mistress?"

Karma flinched. He didn't think she'd figure it all out so fast, but Amelia was sharper than he'd given her credit for. "It's not like that," he said quietly, his usual confidence stripped away.

"Then what is it like, Karma?" Her voice cracked, and her tears flowed faster. "You lied to me. You used me." She wiped her cheeks angrily, as if the tears betrayed her. "All those moments—the stories, the laughs, the adventures—they were fake, weren't they? Just a means to an end."

"No!" Karma's voice was loud enough to startle her. His amber eyes burned with desperation. "None of it was fake, Princess. Not a single second. I didn't mean for this to happen—for you to mean this much to me."

Amelia shook her head, disbelief etched on her face. "You can't just say that and expect it to fix everything."

"I'm not asking for forgiveness," he said, his voice soft now, almost pleading. "I'm just asking for you to understand. I did what I did because I had to. I had nothing, Princess. This mission—your father's money—it was my only way out."

"Out of what?" she spat, glaring at him. "Your pathetic life? Your poor excuses? Do you think that justifies betraying me?"

Karma's jaw tightened. "No, But Pathetic life? Your getting Hasty Princess."

Amelia let out a shaky breath, her anger fading into exhaustion. "You're right. It doesn't." She turned away, wiping her tears with trembling hands. "You were the first person I trusted, Karma. The first person who made me feel like I wasn't just some bird in a gilded cage. And now..." She shook her head, her voice breaking. "Now I don't know if I'll ever trust anyone again."

Her words pierced him deeper than any blade ever could. Karma watched as she walked away, her shoulders hunched, and her steps heavy with pain.

He wanted to go after her, to say something—anything—that could make this right. But he knew better. Some wounds didn't heal with words.

Instead, he stood there, alone in the dark, the weight of his choices crushing him.

For the first time in years, Karma felt something he hadn't allowed himself to feel: regret. A crushing emotion came across him as he watched Ameila go closer and closer to the trap.